Sutera plant named &#39;KLESG14831&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  sutera  plant particularly distinguished by having large blue flowers is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Sutera grandiflora

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘KLESG14831’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of sutera, botanically known as Sutera grandiflora, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLESG14831’. ‘KLESG 14831’ originated from a controlled cross between the proprietary female sutera variety ‘SG-2009-0077’ (unpatented) and proprietary male sutera variety ‘SG-1985-Scopia GVM’ (unpatented).

In August of 2010, the two sutera parental lines, ‘SG-2009-0077’ and ‘SG-1985-Scopia GVM’ were crossed in Nairobi, Kenya, and seeds were obtained. The seeds were sown and plants were grown for evaluation in Stuttgart, Germany. A plant line was selected in May 2011, which had a blue flower color and subsequently named ‘KLESG14831’. In May 2011, ‘KLESG14831’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany. ‘KLESG14831’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative cuttings and in-vitro propagation in Stuttgart, Germany.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Plant Breeder's Rights for ‘KLESG14831’ were applied for in Canada on Apr. 2, 2015, Application No. 15-8585. ‘KLESG14831’ has not been made publicly available or sold more than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

1. Blue flower color; and

2. Large flowers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new sutera plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows the flowers and foliage of the plant. The photograph is of a three-month-old plant grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Stuttgart, Germany in May 2014. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLESG14831’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions by in-vitro cultivation carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on 13-week-old plants grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Stuttgart, Germany in June 2015. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), (2005).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Scrophulariaceae.         -   Botanical.—Sutera grandiflora.         -   Common.—Sutera.         -   Designation.—‘KLESG14831’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary sutera line ‘SG-2009-0077’             (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Proprietary sutera line ‘SG-1985-Scopia GVM’             (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Habit.—Trailing, flat.         -   Height.—6.0 cm.         -   Spread.—30.0 cm.         -   Life cycle.—Blooms from spring until September.         -   Form.—Trailing round.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—4 weeks.         -   Time to bloom from propagation.—5 weeks.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence on the plant.—About 7 days.         -   Rooting habit and color.—Fine, fibrous roots; color is white             to cream-white. -   Stems:     -   -   Number of stems per plant.—7.         -   Length.—About 20.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.4 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 2.0 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 147B.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Anthocyanin.—Absent. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Single, opposite.         -   Average number of leaves per branch.—About 20, and dependent             on the age of the plant.         -   Leaf type.—Simple.         -   Leaf variegation.—Absent.         -   Shape.—Ovate, acute angle to the stem.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Length.—2.0 cm.         -   Width.—2.0 cm.         -   Color.—Immature and mature leaves: Upper surface: RHS 146A             Lower surface: RHS 146B.         -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Leathery.         -   Venation type.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 146A Lower surface: RHS             146B.         -   Fragrance.—Present.         -   Petiole.—Length: 0.4 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm Texture: Smooth             Color: RHS 147 B. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Blooming habit.—Freely flowering.         -   Natural flowering season.—Spring until September.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Flowers are not really             self-cleaning but because of the quantity of flowers, old             flowers will not be noticeable.         -   Peduncle.—Absent.         -   Quantity of inflorescence per stem.—About 10.         -   Type of inflorescence.—Flowers are often solitary, most             often 2 flowers per node are developed.         -   Fragrance.—Present. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Color.—RHS 146D.         -   Length.—0.6 cm to 1.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 0.1 cm.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Strength.—Moderate. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Tubular.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Length.—0.4 cm.         -   Color (at tight bud).—RHS 145 C to RHS 90 B. -   Corolla (flower):     -   -   Type and shape.—Single-type, nearly round, lower part tube             and funnel shaped formed by 5 fused petals, upper part is             salver shaped formed by the partly free petal lobes.         -   Corolla, horizontal diameter.—1.9 cm.         -   Corolla, total length.—1.6 cm.         -   Color of throat.—Inner surface: RHS 23A with white border             Outer surface: RHS 15C.         -   Funnel.—Diameter: 0.4 cm Texture (both inner and outer             surfaces): Smooth. -   Petal (lobes):     -   -   Apex.—Rounded tips.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Color.—Inner surface: RHS 86D Outer surface: RHS 94C.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.0 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 1.0 cm. -   Calyx:     -   -   Arrangement and appearance.—Whorl of 5 sepals surrounding             the base of the flower tube, sepals are fused at the base.         -   Sepals.—Color (both surfaces): RHS 141C Length: 1.1 cm             Width: 0.1 cm Apex: Acute Base: Fused Margin: Entire Texture             (both surfaces): Densely pubescent.         -   Pedicel.—Color: RHS 146C Length: 0.8 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm             Texture: Pubescent. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 4 Filament: Color: RHS 155B Length: 0.5             cm Diameter: 0.1 cm Anther color: RHS 23A Pollen amount:             Abundant Pollen color: RHS 23A.         -   Pistil.—Quantity per flower: 1 Length: 1.1 cm Stigma color:             RHS 145C Style color: RHS 145D Style length: 0.8 cm Ovary             color: RHS 145 D. -   Fruit and seed set:     -   -   Capsulates/fruit.—Color: RHS 144A Size: 0.6 cm in length and             0.4 cm in width Shape: Ovate.         -   Seeds.—Color: RHS 20A Size: 0.1 cm Shape: Round. -   Disease and pest/insect resistance: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINE AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLESG14831’ is a distinct variety of sutera having a blue flower color. ‘KLESG14831’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Variety Female parent Male parent ‘SG-1985- Trait ‘KLESG14831’ ‘SG-2009-0077’ Scopia GVM’ Branching Good Very good Medium Flower color Blue Light lavender Violet

‘KLESG14831’ is most similar to the sutera plant named ‘KLESG12346’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 13/987,184). Differences between the two varieties are described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Variety Commercial line Trait ‘KLESG14831’ ‘KLESG12346’ Flower color Blue Darker blue Flower size Very big; larger than Big; smaller than ‘KLESG12346’ ‘KLESG14831’ Summer performance Flowers open Flowers closed after rain 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of sutera plant named ‘KLESG14831’ as illustrated and described herein. 